Chapter 71 - Episode 14: Pay a Fortune to Buy Them Back
Good day to you! I am Violia Nico Fortesia!
I am currently moving toward the long-awaited opening of the slave market!
On that day, I went to the Guild to receive the results of various applications.
First, the purchase procedures for a suitable noble title. Then, the invitation of a "Slave Registration Office," an institution that attaches slave collars, citing the fact that this area has many nobles. Permission for slave commerce. Things like that.
...And all of them were accepted without a hitch. It is only natural, given that I piled up the gold. Yes.
Oh, by the way, as for the source of the gold, I obtained it by sending a certain noble back to his nest. Ransoms are a wonderful thing in any era, aren't they? Ohohohoho.
...So, that part was managed somehow. In short, for things that only required a single piece of paper, I managed. It seems it will take a little longer for the slave commerce permit to arrive... but there is a much bigger problem than that.
"Director-san, I have something to consult with you about."
"Oh, Lady Violia. What is the matter?"
Yes. The immediate problem we are facing. That is...
"Do you happen to know of any technician who can attach and remove slave collars?"
I can handle the paperwork. However, when it comes to a person with technical skills, I cannot simply forge them, nor is it something that can be obtained just by piling up gold.
In particular, the talent I seek is 'someone who is skilled and will keep their mouth shut and work even if they have to turn a blind eye to some slightly wicked deeds.' I need someone who can ruthlessly place a slave collar on the princess of this country!
"Hmm. Regarding that, I have one person in mind!"
"Oh, truly!?"
"Yes, yes! I certainly remember. It was about two years ago, but notices were sent to various Slave Registration Offices and related institutions... a certain technician's bad reputation, you see, came flying in..."
...Bad reputation? A bad reputation, you say?
Does that mean, well...
"I heard that person was living in Elsemarin! Let's try searching for them!"
...Someone who quit because of a problem... is that all right? No, well, someone with a skeleton in their closet (T/N: The original text uses '脛に傷がある', literally 'having a wound on one's shin,' meaning having a dark past) might be easier to get along with on 'this side,' but...
"Lady Violia. This is the technician in question!"
Looking at the person the Guild Director immediately brought over, I was a little surprised.
...A cigarette in her mouth. Slim pants style. Long black hair tied back in a messy ponytail. Such a tall 'beauty.' ...She stood there looking down at me. Yes.
"I'm Saki Althea. Nice to meet you."
How should I put it, she seems like someone well-acquainted with the underworld... Since the attachment and removal of slave collars cannot be done without national authorization, this person should naturally be a civil servant, but...
"Saki-dono lost her job about two years ago. She currently lives in Elsemarin."
Oh, is that how it is...?
"That's how it is. I'm damaged goods, so be careful how you handle me. ...But my skills haven't dulled. You don't have to worry about that."
"That is good to hear. I have no complaints as long as your skills are good. But, what on earth happened? Would you mind telling me?"
"Hmph. I used to work at the Slave Registration Office in the Royal Capital. The director there told me to 'become his woman,' so I just slapped him across the face and threw my resignation at him. I think I broke one of his front teeth. ...Well, after that, I just couldn't find a job anymore. It's a common story, right?"
Ah, I see...
Civil servants working in the Royal Capital are often of noble origin. Especially those holding positions like 'Director' or 'Captain.'
Those kinds of people have pride that's top-notch even if they are incompetent. I suppose that director worked behind the scenes in various places to ensure she wouldn't find a job, all to get revenge on the woman who wounded his pride... Well, it is a common story.
"...Director-san? By the way, regarding the appointment of Saki-sama, what about the state?"
"They were a bit suspicious, saying 'we haven't heard good rumors,' but I pushed it through by saying 'due to a lack of personnel'!"
Oh, I see. If it passed, then there is no problem. Yes.
"...Just to confirm, Saki-sama?"
"What is it?"
"Do you live in the back alleys?"
When I checked thoroughly, Saki-sama suddenly burst out laughing.
"Ahaha. You don't have to worry about that either. I'm already completely settled into living in the shadows. I'll even do some wicked things. As long as I get paid."
"That is wonderful!"
She is quick to understand and has a wonderful way of thinking! What a wonderful older sister-figure!
"...So, little lady. Will you hire me?"
"Hired! You are hired! I have not a single complaint!"
"Yes. With this, I won't have to worry about my bread and butter (T/N: 'O-manma no kuiage') for the time being. Ahaha, maybe I'll have a drink for the first time in a while today."
Ah, I am truly glad a good talent was found! As soon as the permit from the state is issued, I shall immediately begin the slave merchant business!
"I want to hold the slave auction grandly. In that case, a venue is necessary. However, it would be foolish to build one from scratch now, so using an existing property..."
"Then how about a ship? Since it's Elsemarin, there should be a luxury liner or two, right? That would be better for not leaving a trail."
"As expected of Onii-sama! Then let us immediately buy up one luxury liner. ...Oh, I wonder if there happens to be one belonging to House Fruitier?"
"Let's check. I believe there was a fairly large ship."
Wonderful! Preparations are steadily progressing!
...Using a luxury liner as a slave auction venue is quite a good idea. Above all, since it can move, we can escape anywhere we want. Furthermore, if we head out to sea during the auction, there is no worry of customers or merchandise escaping!
"What shall we do about the staff? It would be foolish for us to be on the sales side, wouldn't it...?"
"It would be better to procure people who seem as unrelated as possible. Shall we look for such people through the Guild?"
"Personnel who are moderately educated, don't know our circumstances well but aren't completely ignorant, listen to what they're told, and know the circumstances of nobles well... Ah, then the two guards from House Fruitier! Let's use them! That would be perfect! If we just put slave collars on them, they will listen!"
"Then should we just make everyone on the ship a slave? That way, no trail will ever be left, and we can make them obey."
"That is true. We must find slaves who can operate a ship!"
Securing personnel is an immediate challenge, but well, that too seems manageable! The fact that we can now use slaves freely is huge!
...In the meantime, the slave commerce permit arrived safely, and in a corner of Elsemarin, in one of the streets that used to be a noble district, a small slave shop opened.
It is a pure and righteous slave shop. It just procures and sells ordinary slaves. Well, in short, it is a camouflage. For now, we just resell or occasionally mix in people we've enslaved in Elsemarin, but eventually, I intend to expand the scale here as well.
By opening even a small slave shop, many 'such' people begin to visit.
There, I distribute notices of the 'Lookalike Human Auction' to them. By the way, I've had these flyers placed in various slave shops in the Royal Capital and other major cities, so there is no fear of a trail leading back here.
...Yes. A 'Lookalike Human Auction.'
It is a large-scale auction selling slaves who are 'lookalikes' of various people. It is a respectable business that has also obtained national permission. Selling a real princess under national permission is so fun I can't help myself. Ohohohoho.
Since we cannot sell them under the label of 'It's the real person!', I decided to sell all the nobles as 'noble lookalikes.'
Along with that, when attaching the slave collars, I am turning them into slaves after secretly adding a permanent restriction: 'You cannot speak of your true identity, about us, or anything until you are purchased at the slave auction.' It would be troublesome if they caused a scene saying 'I am the real one!' at the place they were bought. They are merely 'slaves who just happen to look infinitely like the real person.' Well, they will just have to resign themselves to enjoying it.
And so, a month and a half since the Kingdom Festival.
Nowadays, as the signs of winter draw near, the 'Slave Auction Ship' set sail, receiving the cold wind fully in its sails.
Of course, when leaving Elsemarin, it was in the middle of the night, so as not to attract attention.
And this Slave Auction Ship will head north from here and enter a port far from Elsemarin. Once we take the customers on board there, we will head out to sea, and there, finally, the auction will be held.
...By the way, we have been on board from the beginning, but we are on board strictly as one of the customers. Just to keep an eye on things, you see. It would be scary to leave it completely unattended.
Once the ship was sailing steadily, I headed toward one of the cabins.
That place was originally a warehouse or something, but now the renovation is finished, and it has become a solemn sight with rows of prison cells.
In one of those cells, there is someone I want to talk to for a bit.
"The 'lookalike' of Princess Scola. How are you faring?"
Inside the cell, Princess Scola, who seemed to be at a loss, still possesses a beauty like light snow today.
Her pale blonde hair, close to cream color, consists of fluffy curls, swaying as it grows long down to her waist. Her porcelain-like skin is just like snow. And within her somewhat innocent features, those pale blue eyes are somehow ephemeral.
...Yes. Starting with Princess Scola, the members of the Royal Family are all beauties.
Of course they are. Generations of Kings have repeatedly kidnapped beauties from all over as concubines and bred with them. It is only natural that the blood of beauties becomes concentrated and only beauties are born.
"I am glad to see you are well. You will be able to leave this cell soon, so please think of it as something to endure until then."
"Au..."
Princess Scola does nothing but look up at me resentfully and does not utter a single word. Well, I have placed various restrictions on her. Besides the permanent restriction of 'You cannot speak of your true identity, about us, or anything until you are purchased at the slave auction,' I have placed a restriction on Princess Scola: 'You cannot speak human language.' This is not a permanent restriction, so it can be changed when the owner of the slave changes through official methods.
"Well then, good day. I pray that you are bought for a good price."
"Auuu! Ah, ann!"
Hearing Princess Scola's protest-like cries behind me, I decided to look at the next cell.
After making a round of the cells, the last cell held the eldest son of House Fruitier.
Come to think of it, all the hardships until now were for the sake of selling this guy for a high price... It makes me feel deeply moved. But that too ends tomorrow.
"Y-You! Remember this! Putting me through this... I will never forgive you!"
"Yes, that is quite fine. I have no intention of forgiving you either."
The sin of burning down the Fortesia mansion, stealing information on guns, and making a public spectacle of me in the Throne Room. ...I shall never forgive you.
"I wonder who will buy you. Since House Fruitier has already fallen, I doubt your relatives will buy you to save you..."
"W-Wait! Fallen!? What are you talking about! Fruitier has fallen!?"
Oh, come to think of it, this guy didn't know. He was inside the Spatial Bag the whole time. It's no wonder.
"Yes. It has fallen. The head of House Fruitier died a mysterious death when his carriage went up in flames. All that was left was debt. Naturally, it would fall, wouldn't it?"
Even Fortesia fell. Fruitier will fall too. It is only natural!
"...So, I shall look forward to it. Exactly who will buy you, and what you will be shouting as you step down from the stage. ...You might as well start thinking about it now."
The eldest son of Fruitier was in truly magnificent despair, but I suppose that too is one of the entertainments.
Now, I wonder how much they will sell for...
One day heading north from Elsemarin. We docked at the port town of Marylance.
The 'Slave Auction Ship,' now renamed 'The Bloody Queen,' floated its elegant form in the night darkness, modestly showing off while taking on board people who clearly seemed to have money.
...Naturally, we take an admission fee. It is only natural. Yes. We take what we can take.
Besides, just by setting an admission fee, we can prevent poor people who are just browsing from boarding. Only the wealthy who clearly seek high-class slaves come here.
We make wearing a mask mandatory upon entry. This makes it easier for us to blend in as well. Yes.
Entry finally finished a little past the boarding time. It seems to be quite a success.
Once entry is finished, we quickly remove the ship's gangway and set sail!
...Oh, by the way, on the surface, this ship is merely a sightseeing vessel. It is set to just spend a day leisurely sailing offshore and then return to Marylance. Yes. On the surface.
For a while after the ship starts moving, we just serve light snacks and alcohol in the grand hall while listening to the nobles talk leisurely.
But, when the ship finally heads out to sea... within the comfortable space of the ship, which is stabilized by water magic and makes it hard to believe one is even inside a ship, the front of the dim hall is suddenly illuminated brilliantly.
...And then, appearing there is a slave whose identity is perfectly hidden with a mask and formal wear.
"Everyone, thank you for waiting. We shall now begin the auction."